The New People’s Army-Masbate (Jose Rapsing Command) strongly denied that Nestor Puresima is an active member of the people’s army. On the contrary, Puresima is an active agent of the 96th Military Intelligence Company (MICO).

The 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, in coordination with the Milagros MPS Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), Masbate Police Provincial Office (PPO), and 2nd Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (2nd IB-PA), arrested Puresima on April 28 in Sitio Asid-asid, Barangay Jamorawon, Milagros, Masbate. He was declared No. 4 on the Bicol region’s “Most Wanted” list.

NPA-Masbate reported that the 96th MICO arrested Puresima as they no longer consider him useful.

It can be recalled that Puresima was wounded and paralyzed after an NPA-Masbate ambush in 2023 as a punitive action for his numerous cases against the people, including theft, intimidation, harassment of residents in the first and second districts of the province, and murder and attempted murder. He was with two CAFGU elements at that time.

The NPA said Puresima was a former member of the people’s army. Before he became an AFP agent, 96th MICO elements abducted his parents and wife, and threatened to kill his parents and rape his wife unless he cooperate with the military. Out of fear, Puresima was forced to cooperate and sabotaged a planned tactical offensive of his unit, which resulted in the death of a comrade and the seizure of a bomb and two firearms.

NPA-Masbate spokesperson Ka Luz Del Mar calls on all surrenderers to relinquish their roles as military and police agents while there is still time. “The military and police are only using you to destroy the unity of the Masbatenyo masses, to dismantle established organizations and mass struggles that fight against land grabbing, violence, and killings by the fascist state and its armed forces. Above all, they use you as cannon fodder in their operations against the NPA.”

“They are the ones who get promotions, higher salaries, and recognition when they achieve victories against the NPA after you cooperate with them. But what do you get? Do you also want to end up like Nestor Puresima?”

“Surrendering and cooperating with Bongbong Marcos Jr’s reactionary state and its mercenaries will not guarantee your safety or improve the Masbatenyo masses’ livelihood. This can be achieved only through firmly taking up arms, advancing, and winning the national democratic revolution,” Ka Luz added.